At the last meeting of the year for the qathet School District (qSD) board on Wednesday, December 11, trustee Rob Hill addressed why he is leaving the position as of December 31, 2024.
As required under BC’s School Act, Hill formally notified qSD secretary treasurer Steve Hopkins of his resignation with a letter on December 10, 2024.
"This board meeting will be my last as a trustee with our district," said Hill, who spent six years working for former Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons. A change in that employment resulted in a difficult decision.
“With this change in the employment situation comes the reality that in order to support myself and my little ones, I must step into a different role," he said.
Hill recently received a certificate of qualification from BC Ministry of Education and Child Care to be a teacher. Hill also worked on the campaign for recently elected MLA Randene Neill.
“Three years ago, I was elected in the byelection alongside [board chair] Jaclyn [Miller]," said Hill. "It has been a privilege to serve alongside you and I am thankful for your leadership and friendship."
Hill also acknowledged his appreciation for qSD board member and former board chair Dale Lawson.
"I've always appreciated both of your ability to navigate situations with understanding and care. To the other trustees I have served with, thank you for what you bring to the table each meeting."
Hill was the youngest person to be elected as a school trustee with qSD in 2021. According to his trustee profile, he graduated from Brooks Secondary School in 2009 and went to study political science at University of Victoria. He graduated in 2016 with a bachelor of arts with a focus on political science. After graduation he worked as a legislative intern with the BC government and then became a legislative assistant with the BC NDP caucus, and began working for Simons in 2018.
"When I came into this role, I didn't predict that in three short years while serving, I would welcome my fourth child into the world, have a separation [from his then partner] and come out [as queer] to my friends, family, community," said Hill. "It has been a journey, and I'm thankful for the support and understanding I received, especially from this group. In three years, we've definitely experienced some uphill climbs, but in my entire three years on this board, I have seen a team dedicated to upholding truth and reconciliation in our education system."
Hill then gave Hopkins accolades for his role as secretary-treasurer and how he is able to take complicated material and make it easy to understand.
"You bring a humanness to the role that I want everyone to notice," said Hill. "You have handled a lot in this district over the past three years, and you do it with dignity and grace."
Hill said he's looking forward to just being a dad and taking a step back.
"Spending nearly 10 years in political life in one form or another has taken me away often," he added. "I ran in 2021 [for school trustee] because of each of you, because I support public education, and I wanted the system that you would want to be educated in to be one where you are supported, encouraged, uplifted and listened to."
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